Moosh

Moosh doesn't get much blog love, so had to post these beauties from earlier today. Such a pretty girl in her happiest spot: the sunshine.

Walking toy for the win!

We've had this walking toy since her birthday (compliments of Aunt Claire), but it's only been used as a sit down toy...until this morning. E was playing with a different toy that is not meant to move, but I could tell she was trying to stand up and push it. So I grabbed the walker, and off she went! Holy cow the strides she's made in just the last few days!
At her 12 month check up, the pediatrician estimated that she'd be walking at 15 month, but maybe she heard that and has decided to let us know that she doesn't back down from a challenge :)
PS: I got a little carried away with the walking videos - hahaha - but I was so stinkin' PROUD of her!!

I Love You

Someone learned how to sign (read: say) I Love You. And someone else's heart has officially melted into a big, fat puddle.

My sidekick

She had an older lady beside herself at the grocery store today - kept hugging and kissing her baby, and the lady just kept smiling and staring, and finally patted E's cheek and sighed a truly happy sigh . Adorable. 

Big girl at daycare

I am always so proud of E when I pick her up and the ladies tell me how happy she was. Today they were extra effusive, and when I looked into the room she was standing with a boy around her age, "talking" and trying to kiss him. I had to snap a few pics...

Daily dose of cute

Every now and then I stop and really LOOK at her, and am breathless at how absolutely precious she is. 

POP!

We were lucky enough to get some time yesterday evening with Jim and Candy Lane, two good friends of Martha and Scott's who have been in the Phoenix area for the last few weeks. They brought gifts and laughs, and it was so wonderful catching up as we hadn't seen them since Drew and Kasie's wedding.
Mr. Jim showed Ellie a new trick - the cheek/finger POP. She was fascinated and it produced a big, sly smile every time. Before they left he did it one more time, and E looked right at him, put her finger beside her face and said "POP!". Absolutely hysterical!
This morning, we thought we'd see if she remembered...

Bye-bye baby carseat!

It's so funny the milestones that, for whatever reason, hit you harder than others. (And along the same lines, the ones that you think will be tough, and just aren't!)
The carseat switch was a tough one for mom. I don't know why, but I think it's because it's a visual reminder that she's slowly inching further and further away from baby and heading full steam into toddler/girl. Whatever the reason, this one hurt my heart a bit, but it was time.
She was getting dangerously close to the height requirement on the infant carseat, plus I haven't carried her in that seat in months - she's WAY too heavy. I also thought that she would appreciate a better vantage point, as the convertible seat sits up a bit higher :)
So yesterday morning, we hit up Phoenix Fire Station 61 and a very nice firefighter helped me correctly install the new seat. (Such a nice free service that cities provide!)
Of course, I documented her last evening ride in the old seat (first two photos), the morning of (next), and the new ride. And of course, the side by side old vs. new.
It should also be noted that little makes a mama feel better than Mr. Firefighter telling her that there are "carseat standards, and then there are Britax standards". In his mind they are the absolute safest seats on the market. So according to him, we have "one of the safest cars on the market (go Hyundai!),and the safest seat on the market - nothing but the best for this little princess!". Coming from someone who probably sees his fair share of accidents, this made me feel good.

Starting to figure out this walking thing...

Feeling so grateful for the ladies at the gym daycare. When I went to pick E up today, Madge, the one we see the most, told me she'd been "walking" around with E and she had done pretty well.
I had tried to hold E's hands and walk around a bit a couple of weeks ago, but she wasn't really into it, so hadn't thought to try again.
Lo and behold, we get home, and she did it! Her little knees bent (this has been a hurdle when trying to do this before - straight legs don't walk well :), and she moved forward! Progress!! So proud of our little buggie!

Lunch date with my favorite girl

I'm adoring that right now we can go out to eat, and 95% of the time E is calm, happy and sweet to the people around her. More often than not I get comments from others (mainly older women) about how well behaved she is (today it was: "She's such a good eater! And so quiet and happy!"). I thank them, of course, knowing full well that while I may have a little bit to do with it, the majority of it is just her personality/where she is right now. Give us another few months and who knows!
But for now, it's awesome being out with her and I am always so proud of when she does well.
Was feeling extra sentimental about it today, so even gave Bug some bites of chocolate chip cookie after she ate her yogurt, a roll, and some mac n cheese :)

Yogurt in a tube - this was a new hurdle! She did great :)

Way too busy to look at the camera

Cookie!

Ellie and Penny - a moment

Much to Ellie's chagrin, Penny does not want to be besties. However, when they're out and about together, Penny protects her in a way that shows that even though she may not like her, she loves her something fierce. Be still my mommy heart. 

I know my body parts!

This girl. So stinkin' smart.

Smart cookie

Showing off her skills...

#1: where are Ellie's eyes?

#2: where are Bert's eyes?

#3: a smile :)

Daddy's socks

This morning Ellie was insistent on trying on daddy's socks. Looking pretty good, EC! (Third pic is mid rock while snuggling lamby. I die.)

65 and sunny

While the entire east coast is digging out of the snow, we're swinging in 65 degree sunshine. I am super bummed I didn't get to experience the blizzard and all the fun snow play that followed, but it's pretty hard to complain about this. 

Ellie the X-man

Baby wolverine 

Beta-filled weekend

What a fun weekend! We went from zero to TWO great babysitter options in the last week or so, and that meant me being able to accompany B to Beta events on both Friday and Saturday nights (Beta's quarterly board meeting was here). I can't remember the last time we've had a full weekend out! 

We also got lots of great quality time with Mike Kokkinen, who stayed with us, and E got to meet a huge number of her Beta "uncles" when we stopped by the meeting on Saturday.

We ended the weekend by having a couple of guys over to watch football on Sunday, and hosted Ben whose flight back to DC was canceled. 

Tiring but so much fun with great friends!

Wednesday evening with Eleanor Claire

Mommy had to go meet a gala vendor so little Miss tagged along. (Mr. Bear also tagged along as E was insistent he ride along.) Then we stayed and waited for B because he had a work dinner right in the same area. Captured these amazingly adorable shots just before he arrived. I just can't EVEN handle the cuteness sometimes...

Talking up a storm

Yesterday I thought I heard it and this morning it was clear as a bell. Penny sneezed, and without prompting Ellie said "beh-shoo". Of all the words and phrases she could have picked up it's this one. Pretty in line with her sweet nurturing little personality, actually. This child is incredible. 

Mommy heartbreak

As I've written about, Ellie has been pretty good about self-weaning from nursing. But for the last few weeks we've been in a great groove of one feed when she wakes up and one before bed. I was preparing to go through January with both, and the come February, try to drop the night feed.

Well tonight, Ellie dropped it for us by flat out refusing the boob before bed. Not just refused it, but reached right past it for the books on her nightstand, and then CRIED when I tried to get her to nurse instead of giving her books. I was clearly NOT ready for that, and immediately burst into tears. Through tears I read three books until Brad got home at which point I lost it again.

I know this is all part of her growing up, and I know we were working towards this, but man not being able to call the shots on when and how it stops is HARD. 

Funny thing is as I was nursing her before bed last night I thought to myself that I should have B take a photo of us in action from the doorway. Guess that ship has sailed since our morning nursing sessions happen in our bed. 

Sigh. I'm now spending this evening working to ease my bruised mommy ego with wine. Time will pass and I know this will become a distant memory, but wow. A very tough one. 

Tubbies...and the towel aftermath

After tubbies this evening, I wrapped E up in her hooded towel as usual. When I asked her to turn and see who was in the mirror, the hood was so tight around her head that she could barely move her head. It was so stinking funny, I was cracking UP! And when she saw me laughing, she started cracking up, too. I managed to turn on the video during the giggle fest...

Movin' on up...

...to the next stage car seat! We have an appointment with the fire station to make sure it gets installed properly, but in the meantime, we're getting the fit right in the living room.

Cannot BELIEVE how big she looks! 

SMOOTHIES!

This is Ellie's preferred way to eat veggies. Whatever works, I say!

AMAZING faces

This girl has started making some HILARIOUS faces as of late. Huh. Wonder where she gets it...?! :)

Music to her ears...

B got a new toy and E is a big fan. I foresee lots of moments like this in their future :)

Score one for mommy!

E is not a fan of vegetables, and I just hate it because I so badly want her to eat balanced meals. I've been looking up toddler-friendly recipes (that are also somewhat soft since we still only have ONE tooth), and came across one for chickpea/veggie patties. These things are chock full of protein and veg with chickpeas, carrots, mushroom, spinach, and corn.

I made them last night after she went to bed, and I put one on her tray tonight for dinner. She LOVED it! Score one for mommy!

*revised 1/18/16: the love was short lived. Next day she wouldn't touch it. Waaahhhh! But I'm not giving up!!

Bug takes the wheel!

Little fashionista

It starts. Already trying on mommy a shoes :)

Sloppy Joe

They don't call 'em sloppy for nothing!

Eating is exhausting

In the last few days, Ellie has taken to resting her head while she eats - usually towards the end of the meal. Because, you know, eating is exhausting :)